Aspenpaw let out a screech of horror. Badgerpaw and Shadowpaw were staring at the raging river in dumbfounded shock. For a long moment, none of them moved, all of them staring, waiting for Drypaw to reappear.

Finally, Aspenpaw began to run. "Come on!" she called over her shoulder, running along the bank, her gaze searching the waves for her friend. The other two began to follow her. Their fear scent was stronger now as they peered into the water.

The three of them rounded the bend in the river and Aspenpaw began to wonder if they would ever find her. How would she cope without the sunny little she-cat who brightened all of their days? She suddenly paused as she saw a flash of white up ahead of her, up on a rock on the bank of the river.

"Is that Icepaw?" asked Shadowpaw. But before any of them could answer, the black and white apprentice threw himself off of the rock and into the water.

Aspenpaw's knees felt weak. "Icepaw!" she shrieked running towards the point where he had jumped in. What was he thinking? He was still so weak. There was no way he'd be able to fight the current.

She saw his black and white face bobbing about, saw him spitting out mouthfuls of water as he fought against the strength of the river. Suddenly a wave crashed over his head and he disappeared from view. "No!" she screeched, freezing where she stood. How could she bear it? What would she do if she lost two of her best friends today?

The seconds stretched so she may have only been stood there for a heartbeat or for a moon, she wasn't sure.

Suddenly his white head broke the surface. Clutched in his jaws was Drypaw's scruff.

She felt a wave of relief sprinting down to where he was swimming towards the shore. She padded out towards him, ready to help him pull her in.

He got his paws down on the bottom of the shallows and began to pull at Drypaw, her fur streaming out behind him, the water turning crimson as she went. "Come on..." she heard him growl. "Drypaw use your paws." The she-cat didn't respond, her paws dragging along in the shallows. Her eyes were closed, her fur so waterlogged he could hardly move her.

Aspenpaw grabbed her pelt as they came closer pulling her towards where Shadowpaw and Badgerpaw were standing on the bank. With what seemed a monumental effort, they pulled the soaked apprentice onto the bank. Icepaw shook her gently. "Drypaw." He hissed. "Talk to me... say something..." She did not respond. "...please..." he croaked.

For the second time that day, Aspenpaw suddenly felt very detached from what was going on around her. The world seemed to spin. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't fair...

'Think.' A voice murmured in her ear. 'You know what to do.'

She looked around but there was no-one there. She stared back at Drypaw, trying to think. What would Alderheart of Poppydust do...

And suddenly she realised.

She pushed Icepaw aside, pressing her ear against Drypaw's chest, hearing the water rattling, stopping her from breathing. She placed her paws on Drypaws side and pressed down. A small gush of water rushed out of her nose. She pressed down again, feeling a sense of satisfaction as another rush of water appeared.

"Aspenpaw..." Shadowpaw croaked. "Her tail."

She glanced at it for less than a heartbeat. Blood was spilling from the place the fox had bitten her. "Cobwebs." She snapped, looking around, still pressing down on Drypaws chest. "Look in the hollows in the trees."

"You're going too slow!" snarled Badgerpaw thrusting Aspenpaw aside and placing his own paws on Drypaw's side. "She's going to die if you carry on at that speed." She saw him brace himself, as though mustering strength to do this before he began to rhythmically press on Drypaw's chest. His larger weight meant he was putting more force on her body, but it seemed to be working. Aspenpaw darted to her head, pulling her jaw open, wanting to purr when what seemed like a small river flooded out of her mouth. "Come on Drypaw." The dark tom snarled. "Wake up!"

She suddenly began to cough, more water spurting out of her mouth. She drew a pained shuddering breath. Badgerpaw retreated quickly, looking awestruck and horrified. Icepaw blinked from where he had near collapsed beside them. "Y-... you did it..."

Drypaw's eyes opened a crack. Her mouth opened and closed a few times. Finally, a sobbing croak came out. "I c-can't... f-feel my tail." She whimpered.

Shadowpaw reappeared, his paw covered in cobwebs. "She's probably freezing." He mewed fluffing up his short pelt and lying beside her, pressing himself close to her. "Badgerpaw, do the same on her other side!" Badgerpaw stared for a moment before fluffing up his own pelt and pressing against her. Shadowpaw looked up at Aspenpaw, silently urging her to do something, anything.

She blinked at her friends for a few moments before she realised. Her tail! She darted around to Drypaw's bloodied tail and began to stretch the cobwebs over the wound. "We'll need more." She mewed. "Shadowpaw, go find more from wherever you found this lot. Badgerpaw, keep her talking."

Shadowpaw sprinted away into the trees. Badgerpaw blinked for a moment. "H-... how do you feel?" he asked awkwardly.

"I hurt..." she whispered. "I'm scared... I'm cold..."

He looked at her, fear in his blue eyes before fluffing up his pelt more and pressing harder into her. "Come on, you can't let this beat you." He mewed encouragingly. "We've got to get you back to camp. Robinblaze is probably worried... you'll probably get special attention from him." His voice took on the annoying tone that it did when he was teasing her.

Her ears flattened against her head as she trembled. "What if I can't be a warrior anymore?" she whispered. "I don't want to be a medicine cat. Silverstar will kick me out. I'll... I'll die out there." She gave a long moan, her trembling intensifying.

"No, no! You're going to be ok!" Aspenpaw tried to sound reassuring, but she was certain the panic in her voice was evident. The cobwebs she was holding on her friend's tail were already soaked through. "You're going to be a warrior! I promise!" She looked around for Shadowpaw, hoping the dark apprentice wasn't too far away. If she couldn't stop the bleeding and Drypaw went into shock...

She looked at where Icepaw was still collapsed on the ground exhausted. "I need more cobwebs." She whispered. "Can you get them? Be quick."

The black and white tom forced himself to his paws with a nod, hurrying into the trees.

"And if Silverstar does try anything like that..." Badgerpaw glanced at Aspenpaw. "Well, you won't be alone. The five of us will stick together. We always will. We always have right?"

She felt a glow in her heart at his words and gave a firm nod. The four apprentices were the best friends she could ever have hoped for and felt more like her family than some of her real family felt. She would not turn her back on them for a second.

Drypaw looked up at Badgerpaw, her blue eyes wide. "Is... is my tail still bleeding?" she croaked.

He looked away from her as though not wanting to look at her, or back at her tail. His eyes suddenly widened. "Oh Starclan..." he murmured staring at the river.

"What?" Drypaw tried to sit up and look at what he was seeing but then fell back with a pained whine.

"The fox..." he murmured. "It... it's dead..."

Aspenpaw looked where he was staring. The fox was floating in the rushes on the opposite side of the river, its body limp and its eyes staring. Her heart was in her throat as she looked back at Drypaw.

"That... that's good though..." Drypaw croaked.

He was staring at her. "You killed a fox by yourself! Silverstar will make you a warrior for sure!"

Drypaw shrugged. "It drowned... like I almost did..."

"But you didn't!" he mewed pressing himself closer to her. "You're better than that mangepelted fox. You're stronger!"

Aspenpaw blinked at him. She had never seen this side of Badgerpaw before. His eyes were soft as he tried to comfort her, pushing away the fear she had seen in them before.

She glanced around the trees around her and scented the air. It was difficult to smell anything over the reek of blood, when a fragrant aroma touched her scent glands. "Thyme." She whispered. She looked back at Badgerpaw. "Put weight on where the cobwebs are. I'll be right back.

As she removed her paws, the dark tom quickly obliged. As she dashed away, she heard Drypaw let out a little wailing sound.

"I'm sorry." Mewed Badgerpaw. "You were right. I'd never have made a good medicine cat."

She found the source of the scent and grabbed a sprig of thyme in her jaws, turning and sprinting back to where her friends were.

Shadowpaw had arrived back and was gently nudging Badgerpaw away. "You're pushing too hard. Here..." He carefully spread the cobweb over her wound and pressed gently. She seemed to be relaxing a little. He looked back at Badgerpaw. "We need Poppydust."

Badgerpaw nodded. "I'll be right back."

"No, I'll go. Of the two of us, I'm faster." He looked up, relieved to see Aspenpaw approaching.

She placed the thyme before Drypaw. "Eat this." She snapped before going and taking over from Shadowpaw on her tail. Shadowpaw stood back and tore away into the trees.

A voice suddenly rang out. "Drypaw? Drypaw are you here?"

"Over here!" yelped Badgerpaw.

Robinblaze burst through the ferns, starting around, eyes wild with fear. His eyes rested on his apprentice, soaked to the bone and covered in blood. "No..." he whispered before dashing forward. "No, no, no, no, no, Drypaw, talk to me, say something."

She looked up at him, her eyes dull with pain, clearly weak from the blood loss. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I just wanted to protect you."

Robinblaze was staring at her as though he'd never seen her before.

"She killed the fox." Murmured Badgerpaw, puffing himself up again and pressing against her. "Are you still cold?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't be a better apprentice." She croaked.

Robinblaze finally seemed to snap out of his stupor and tucked himself around her. "What are you talking about." He murmured. "I couldn't have asked for a better apprentice."

She gave a faint purr. Her eyes were beginning to glaze over. Aspenpaw looked at the untouched herb in front of her. "Robinblaze, make her eat that." She mewed urgently.

He picked it up numbly and moved it closer to her. "I need you to eat this." He said firmly, his eyes wide and full of worry.

She blinked at the plant for a long moment, her eyes blank before she obediently opened her mouth and began to chew it.

He rasped his tongue over her ears. "That's it." He murmured. "Why do you think you needed to be better? You are the best apprentice I could hope for."

"My tail hurts." She whimpered leaning her head against him. "No-one will tell me how bad it is... how much longer to you think I'll be a warrior apprentice?"

He looked a little guilty before continuing to rasp his tongue over her ears, trying to comfort her. "You've been ready for a while now." he murmured. "I don't have anything more I can teach you. You're going to be an amazing warrior. You have so much strength of spirit and no clan can ask for more than that."

Badgerpaw shifted away from the mentor and apprentice looking almost awkward. Aspenpaw was staring at them. The way Robinblaze was speaking, it was almost like he expected Drypaw not to make it... but she had to... they were going to be warriors together...

Icepaw pushed his way out of the brush with a fresh lot of cobwebs on his paw. Aspenpaw gave a slight sigh of relief. The cobwebs on her tail at the moment were soaked through but the bloodflow seemed to be slowing. She carefully peeled off the first dressing and flinched back.

"What is it?" demanded Icepaw moving forward before recoiling in horror.

Less than half a mouse length along from the base of Drypaw's fluffy tail, chunks of flesh were missing, the splintered bone exposed. Badgerpaw looked over before giving a little gasp.

"What is it?" Drypaw squeaked trying to look up, but Robinblaze held her down. "Just lie still." He soothed.

The ferns rustled again and Shadowpaw burst out, Poppydust at his heels, a leaf wrap in her jaws. "Let me see!" she mewed dashing to Drypaw and setting the wrap down. She recoiled slightly at the sight of her tail before she steeled herself. "I need a sharp stone and a very sturdy stick." She looked at Shadowpaw. "More cobwebs. As much as you can carry." She commanded, and he darted away. Icepaw placed the cobwebs he had collected beside the medicine cat as she turned her gaze on him. "I need a poppy head." He gave a curt nod and hurried away.

Aspenpaw looked around at the sticks below the trees, picking up a stick and giving it a firm bite. It didn't splinter under her jaws. She turned and rushed back. Poppydust was inspecting the wound, cleaning it gently with quick swipes of the tongue.

Robinblaze was holding Drypaw's head still. "I'm here." He murmured over and over. Her ears were flat against her head, her claws were extending and retracting. "Shh... calm down..." he soothed. "When this is over, I'm going to Silverstar and I'm going to tell her you don't need an assessment. You're ready. You're being so brave."

Badgerpaw reappeared holding a sharp stone in his jaws. "Will this do?"

Poppydust nodded. "Perfect." She looked at Aspenpaw. "Give the stick to Drypaw."

"Is this necessary?" whispered Aspenpaw, looking at the already trembling apprentice.

"Her tail will never heal from this." Murmured Poppydust. "It will only weigh her down. Plus the exposed flesh and bone will leave her more prone to infection. It's better if I..."

Aspenpaw nudged the stick towards her. Drypaw looked at the stick before taking it in her jaws. Aspenpaw saw the flash of grim determination in her eyes. She knew what was about to happen.

Poppydust looked up as Icepaw and Shadowpaw approached. "Aspenpaw, I need you to hold Drypaw's tail straight." She whispered. Aspenpaw felt a little sick but obeyed, gently pulling the broken tail straight. Poppydust picked the stone up and placed it so that the sharp edge was on the already broken exposed bone. She focussed her gaze on the stone. "This is going to hurt." She murmured. "I'm sorry..." Aspenpaw felt Dry tense up slightly through her tail, heard her whimpering slightly. "...three... two..." Poppydust brought her paw down sharply, the stone shattering the bone.

Drypaw screeched, her teeth digging into the stick, her fur fluffing out in alarm. Robinblaze wrapped himself tighter around her, squeezing his eyes shut in anguish. "Well done." He tried to soothe his apprentice. "You did so well."

Poppydust opened the leaf wrap and began chewing a plant furiously."Give her two seeds." Poppydust mumbled at Icepaw through her mouthful. Icepaw began shaking the poppyhead while she applied the poultice to what was left of Dry's tail. She turned to Shadowpaw and took the cobweb from him, carefully spreading it over her wound. Somewhere a short way away, Badgerpaw was vomiting.

Icepaw held the poppy seeds out to Drypaw. "Eat these." He mewed. "It'll help with the pain."

Drypaw lapped up the seeds and leant against Robinblaze. "Can I close my eyes now?" she moaned.

He looked up at Poppydust. She gave a very slight nod. "You can." he murmured, but not just yet. I can carry you back to camp, but you need to get up on my back. Try to stay awake until we get there yeah?"

She nodded. "Alright." She said shifting trying to stand up again

He gently supported her, keeping himself low to the ground. As soon as she was propped up enough, he slipped himself underneath her. "Comfortable?"

She gave a nod before her eyes drifted closed. Robinblaze carefully began to pick his way through the ferns. Badgerpaw and Shadowpaw glanced at one another before flanking the warrior on either side, holding their friend in place.

Poppydust looked at Icepaw and Aspenpaw. "You two had... had better come with me..." she said quietly, leading them back towards the clearing. "I have stabilised Silverstar. She lost a life, but she'll be fine after a little rest... however..."

Aspenpaw's stomach felt tight as they padded into the clearing. Creekshadow was helping Silverstar limp back towards the camp. Near the ferns on the edge of the clearing though, a black furred shape lay limp. Hazelbreeze was beside him, her face buried into his shoulder.

Icepaw let out a wail as he sprinted across the clearing, his back legs stumbling as he ran to his father's side. Aspenpaw hurried along just behind him, her eyes on her foster family.

"Ravencall?" whimpered Icepaw as he approached his father. He gently nudged at his head. The black deputy did not respond. Icepaw's jaw fell open, shaking his head in disbelief. "No..." he croaked. "No he can't... he's..."

Hazelbreeze let out a long moan, raising her eyes from her mate to look at their son. Her eyes brimmed with grief. "He's gone, Icepaw."

Aspenpaw felt her chest squeeze. She had known it the moment the fox had gotten him in its jaws, but seeing Hazelbreeze and Icepaw here with him made it suddenly more real. She shifted forward and laid her tail over Icepaw's back, when he threw his head back and let out a heart-wrenching wail to the skies, his eyes squeezed closed in anguish. She felt her heart break as she lowered her head to the deputy's head and rested her forehead against his pelt.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered. "And... thank you... for everything..."

---

OMG what? Another new chapter so soon? Becca you spoil us!

Well I've had a week off of no exams or coursework so I've actually been able to write a bit. Classes back on Monday so will probably slow down again.

Also I'm going to start going back through the story and adding images of the characters so that you guys can see what they are meant to look like in my mind.  Enjoy :D

Creekshadow belongs to Hannah Rowe

Drypaw belongs to Meadow Leon Flower

Badgerpaw belongs to Nicholas Mullen